Monday, April 20, 2009

"Creating a work of art is an act of generosity, a gift, whose purpose is to relieve suffering."-Gelek Rimpoche (in conversation with Allen Ginsberg)

An exciting and thought provoking event is coming to New York City next month. Join Gelek Rimpoche, Philip Glass, Francesco Clemente, and Michael Imperioli in a discussion of art, music, drama and meditation and enrich your understanding of the creative act through the prism of spirituality. The evening will take place at the Great Hall at Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street in New York City on May 9, 2009 at 7pm. The evening will benefit the Jewel Heart organization. This will be a rare opportunity to hear four sensational artists debate the relevance of art and spirituality to our difficult times.

Gelek Rimpoche was recognized as an incarnate lama at the age of four and was trained by many of the same masters who taught the Dalai Lama. Among the last generation of lamas educated in Drepung Monastery before the Communist Chinese invasion of Tibet, Gelek Rimpoche fled to India and eventually became an American citizen. In 1988, he founded Jewel Heart, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization founded in 1987 whose purpose is to support the preservation of Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism http://www.jewelheart.org . He is also the author of "Good Life, Good Death" and "The Tara Box."

Philip Glass' landmark operas (Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha) broke new ground and his film scores (Kundun, The Hours, Notes on a Scandal, The Truman Show) were Academy-Award and Golden Globe nominated. He continues to perform his works with major symphonies around the world. Besides his background in composition, he has been a serious student of Indian Music and Buddhism for over 40 years. http://www.philipglass.com

Francesco Clemente's work has been featured in retrospectives at The Guggenheim New York and Bilbao, and his works have been exhibited internationally. He has published many works in conjunction with poets, including John Wieners, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Creeley, and Rene Ricard, and since 1973 he has frequently resided and worked in India.

Michael Imperioli is and actor, writer and director best known for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti on the acclaimed HBO series "The Sopranos," for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Emmy Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe. He has appeared in more than 30 films including Scorcese's Goodfellas and has worked for more than a decade on the New York stage. He wrote and executive produced Summer of Sam (directed by Spike Lee). https:// www.studiodante.com

Tickets for this very special event are available through Ticket Centralwww.ticketcentral.com(212) 279-4200